The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: SallyintNorth on September 26, 2022, 05:48:18 pm

Title: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 26, 2022, 05:48:18 pm: Does anyone grow winter oats and knows where/how to buy small quantities? We want to do a small experiment, just need about 1kg, can't seem to buy less than half a tonne!
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: arobwk on September 27, 2022, 10:50:25 pm: [member=10673]SallyintNorth[/member] you must surely know one or two local farmers who will allow you to take just a scoop of grain !?
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 28, 2022, 09:44:49 pm: I have posted on the local smallholder groups, but it's not crop-growing country hereabouts.
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: Anke on September 29, 2022, 02:56:57 pm: If you google "buying whole grains for bread making uk", this website comes up.

Wholegrains | Healthy Supplies (https://www.healthysupplies.co.uk/wholegrains.html)

I am sure there are others if you only want 1kg or so.

Charles Dowding has just put out a video on his youtube channel, where he hsows the whole thing of growing the grain until baking the bread. He mentiones where he buys his grains from (but is rye rather than oats) near the start of the video.
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 29, 2022, 07:26:56 pm: Thank you Anke! Knew you guys would know something useful :-*
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: Anke on September 29, 2022, 10:15:04 pm: Oh and Charles Dowding sowed his grains into plug trays, a few per plug and then planted out as wee clumps. Depending on the size you want to do, that may work out better as you won't have to deal with mice etc eating the grains before they sprout.
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: oor wullie on December 04, 2022, 05:33:47 pm: Are most oats grown not Spring oats? If so that's probably what you will get if you buy unnamed seed. I don't know if it matters and I guess planting 1kg would be a way to find out.

What do you plan to do with the oats SallyintNorth? I just ask as processing (particularly dehulling) oats is much much more difficult than wheat or rye, to the point that modern small-scale processing is nearly impossible.

I grew some spring oats this year and, when I get time this winter, am going to try and get them into an edible state.............
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: Forestlens on December 04, 2022, 09:59:02 pm: There are naked oat varieties which would make your life a lot easier!
Title: Re: Anyone grow winter oats?
Post by: oor wullie on December 05, 2022, 05:47:31 am: Quote from: Forestlens on December 04, 2022, 09:59:02 pm
There are naked oat varieties which would make your life a lot easier!

Good point, and that would be the sensible option!